EMA unleashes fury on Kitsiyatota polluters, Orders immediate shut down of illegal mining operations

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has cracked down on mining companies operating in Kitsiyatota and Botha Mine after uncovering serious violations of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, ordering the immediate suspension of all mining activities, imposing fines on offending operators, and demanding full rehabilitation of the damaged environment.

In an enforcement order dated 7 April 2026, EMA issued a directive following an inspection conducted at Gilded Treasures, Botha Mine, where authorities discovered extensive gold processing operations being undertaken without proper environmental compliance.

“Following inspection which was conducted at Gilded Treasures, Botha Mine, it was observed that implementing a prescribed project, namely gold processing using VAT leach tanks, 90 tanks, and six boilers.

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